Evidence against Wolbachia symbiosis in Loa loa - PubMed (original) (raw)

Evidence against Wolbachia symbiosis in Loa loa

Helen F McGarry et al. Filaria J. 2003.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The majority of filarial nematode species are host to Wolbachia bacterial endosymbionts, although a few including Acanthocheilonema viteae, Onchocerca flexuosa and Setaria equina have been shown to be free of infection. Comparisons of species with and without symbionts can provide important information on the role of Wolbachia symbiosis in the biology of the nematode hosts and the contribution of the bacteria to the development of disease. Previous studies by electron microscopy and PCR have failed to detect intracellular bacterial infection in Loa loa. Here we use molecular and immunohistological techniques to confirm this finding. METHODS: We have used a combination of PCR amplification of bacterial genes (16S ribosomal DNA [rDNA], ftsZ and Wolbachia surface protein [WSP]) on samples of L. loa adults, third-stage larvae (L3) and microfilariae (mf) and immunohistology on L. loa adults and mf derived from human volunteers to determine the presence or absence of Wolbachia endosymbionts. Samples used in the PCR analysis included 5 adult female worms, 4 adult male worms, 5 mf samples and 2 samples of L3. The quality and purity of nematode DNA was tested by PCR amplification of nematode 5S rDNA and with diagnostic primers from the target species and used to confirm the absence of contamination from Onchocerca sp., Mansonella perstans, M. streptocerca and Wuchereria bancrofti. Immunohistology was carried out by light and electron microscopy on L. loa adults and mf and sections were probed with rabbit antibodies raised to recombinant Brugia malayi Wolbachia WSP. Samples from nematodes known to be infected with Wolbachia (O. volvulus, O. ochengi, Litomosoides sigmodontis and B. malayi) were used as positive controls and A. viteae as a negative control. RESULTS: Single PCR analysis using primer sets for the bacterial genes 16S rDNA, ftsZ, and WSP were negative for all DNA samples from L. loa. Positive PCR reactions were obtained from DNA samples derived from species known to be infected with Wolbachia, which confirmed the suitability of the primers and PCR conditions. The quality and purity of nematode DNA samples was verified by PCR amplification of 5S rDNA and with nematode diagnostic primers. Additional analysis by 'long PCR' failed to produce any further evidence for Wolbachia symbiosis. Immunohistology of L. loa adults and mf confirmed the results of the PCR with no evidence for Wolbachia symbiosis. CONCLUSION: DNA analysis and immunohistology provided no evidence for Wolbachia symbiosis in L. loa.

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Figures

Figure 1

Figure 1

Detection of Wolbachia in Loa loa by PCR. A) Primers for eubacterial 16S rDNA only amplify a signal in Onchocerca volvulus positive controls (lanes 9 and 10). B) Primers for Wolbachia ftsZ only amplify DNA from O. volvulus. Lane description for A+B: 1–3: L. loa female worms, lanes 4–7: L. loa male worms, lane 8: L. loa microfilariae, lanes 9–10: O. volvulus, lanes 11–12: Acanthocheilonema viteae. C) Elongase® Taq, having 3'–5' proofreading activity, only detects endosymbiont DNA in the O. volvulus controls. Lanes 1–3: L. loa female worms, lanes 4–7:L. loa male worms, lanes 8–9: O. volvulus.

Figure 2

Figure 2

Light immunohistology of Loa loa adult worms with antisera against Wolbachia surface protein. (A-D) Adult female L. loa showing lack of staining in lateral cord (LC), oocytes (O) and morula (M) stages (magnification × 160). (E) Adult male showing lack of staining in lateral and median cords (LC, MC) and testis (T) (magnification × 100). (F) Adult female B. malayi showing positive staining of Wolbachia in the lateral cords (LC) and oocytes (O) (magnification × 160).

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